Canandaigua Mayor Polimeni to seek re-election

After more than 20 years in office, Canandaigua Mayor Ellen Polimeni will once again run for re-election in November.

Polimeni, a Democrat, has been mayor since 1991. In that time, she has faced only two opponents during election time. It appears she will once again run unopposed in 2013.

By Scott Pukos, staff writer

MPNnow

By Scott Pukos, staff writer

Posted Jun. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 26, 2013 at 12:16 PM

By Scott Pukos, staff writer

Posted Jun. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 26, 2013 at 12:16 PM

Canandaigua, N.Y.

After more than 20 years in office, Canandaigua Mayor Ellen Polimeni will once again run for re-election in November.

Polimeni, a Democrat, has been mayor since 1991. In that time, she has faced only two opponents during election time. It appears she will once again run unopposed in 2013.

“We don’t currently have a challenger for mayor,” said Torsten Rhode, the city of Canandaigua Republican Committee chairperson. Though there is still time to find a Republican mayoral candidate — the deadline to file designated positions to the Board of Elections is in July — Rhode said he doesn’t believe that spot will be filled.

“We were not able to identify a candidate who could dedicate themselves to the office at this time -— dedication that requires time and proximity to the daily goings-on in the city,” Rhode said. “We're working on it, though. If not for this election, definitely for the next.”

Though she has mostly ran for mayor without competition, Polimeni said she wouldn’t be opposed to the idea of a challenger.

“I don’t mind when people run against me,” she said. “It doesn’t change the way I do things.”

Polimeni didn’t specify whether or not this would be her final term, saying she is focusing on the upcoming election, not any future ones.

She added that there are several large projects that she is looking forward to seeing progress over the next few years. This includes the proposed mixed residential and commercial development on the north side of Lakeshore Drive. Polimeni is a member of the Canandaigua Area Development Corporation (CADC) — a group that recently hired developer Morgan-LeChase, of Rochester, for the lakefront project. The CADC began work on the project in September 2011, just before Polimeni was re-elected to a 10th two-year term as mayor.

Polimeni added that she is also looking forward to work on the proposed hotel and conference center at 205 Lakeshore Drive —the location that currently houses the Steamboat Landing restaurant.

The city’s Main Street revamp project has also developed in Polimeni’s most recent term. The renovations — that include the addition of rain gardens, flowers, trees and a new sidewalk to Main Street — is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.